Chelsea: What is the best XI the Blues can field with everyone fit?

The Midfield pivot

Mason Mount needs to be here. Mount is not a clinical finisher or passer. He can little often hit the net with his shots. He misses great passing opportunities too often. Yet, he’s a dynamic player, with a fantastic work-rate, but he’s not a forward. Mount has to be inserted into the midfield as one of the two pivots (or maybe he can even evolve into a wing-back). He has to be in the starting 11, but he’s just not viable as a forward.

On the other hand, there is no question that having been re-inserted into the starting 11 by Tuchel and placed in the heart of the midfield has suited Mateo Kovacic to a tee. He has earned a spot as one of the two central midfield pivots without a doubt. His ability to drive the ball forward is an asset to the Blues attack, even though unfortunately, he is not a threat to shoot on goal or score at all and is prone to the poor pass from time to time. That notwithstanding, one of these spots has to go to Kovacic.

N’Golo Kante should get time in a rotation as a pivot. Against Newcastle, Kante’s pace brought new life into the attack, and, of course, his defensive abilities, tackling, interceptions, and all-around tremendous play as a midfield sweeper are acknowledged worldwide. Yet, Kante is beginning to be more prone to mistakes, giving the ball away more easily (and he’s not alone there).

Under Tuchel, the other central midfield position has been manned primarily by Jorginho and to a much lesser extent by Billy Gilmour. Kante and Jorginho can be rotated into the squad. But that leaves little room for the really promising Gilmour. Having these talented reserves available is a luxury few teams can avail themselves of. Use them. But one will have to go in the summer if Mount is inserted here.